Islands in the Sun - Why the Canaries are on Song at This Time of Year

LONDON, August 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Canary Islands holidays offer amazing year-round weather at an unparalleled price - perfect for that well-deserved week of guaranteed sunshine.

Situated southwest of Spain and close to the African coast, the Canary Islands enjoy a sub-tropical climate with an average of over 320 days of sunshine a year. Just a four-hour flight from the UK, you can enjoy temperatures that hover around the 20°C mark in the winter, rising to a scorching 30°C during the summer months.

Activities a-plenty

Made up of seven major islands - including Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote - the Canary Islands are perfect for swimming, boasting stretches of golden sand sloping gently into shallow warm water. There are also first-class water sports on offer, including windsurfing and jet-skiing for those wanting to add some thrills and spills to their Canary Islands beach break. Scuba diving is extremely popular and offers the chance to see sting-rays, eels and barracuda close at hand. There are also some fascinating underwater wreck sites to explore on holidays to Fuerteventura.

If you prefer land-based leisure pursuits, the Canaries are home to no less than four national parks. Why not take a trek up Tenerife's Mount Teide, which will reward you with amazing views of the entire region, or a trip on horseback to explore La Palma's lush, diverse plant life? Don't miss the Dunes of Maspalomas nature reserve on Gran Canaria which can only be crossed on foot or by camel. With the endless, rolling dunes you'd be forgiven for thinking you'd arrived at a different part of the world completely.

If you find the idea of all this activity in the scorching summer heat of the Canaries tiring, you could simply spend your time relaxing on the beach. The freedom to do as much, or as little, as you like on a cheap holiday to the Canary Islands, really is yours.

Fun for the whole family

Family-friendly beaches and a wide array of kids' attractions including water parks, zoos, camel rides, butterfly sanctuaries and amusement parks make the Canaries an ideal destination for a family holiday. Holiday giant Thomas Cook even offers free kids places for early bookers.

Thomas Cook Children's Charity  is committed to making dreams come true for sick and disadvantaged children in the UK & Overseas - to find out more about the work we do visit our website.